Fastening device.



E. A. REEVES.

FASTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1908.

Paten ted June 22, 1909.

ATTORNEY.

2 SHBETS -SHEET l.

I INVENTOR.

WITNESSES:

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E. A. REEVES.

FASTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1908.

925,596. I Patented June 22, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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4 5&3 $5.. WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

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rnqunkkls PETERS co., WAsHINmoll, n. c

EDWIN A. REEVES, OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

FASTENING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. REEVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in fastening devices and refers more particularly to that type of fastening means used to secure the money receptacle of a prepayment device, and having for its object, among other things, to combine simpleness in structure with efiectiveness in operation, and both carried into effect so as to reduce to the minimum any liability to injury by tampering or other unlawful means.

To these, and other ends, my invention consists in the fastening device, having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

I have shown my invention as applied to a prepayment gas meter, but desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to such application, as it can be used equally as well with a great variety of otherdevioes.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures; Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device as attached to a prepayment gas meter. Fig. 2 is an eleva tion thereof looking toward the left of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is an elevation looking toward the 'underside of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view of that portion of the meter to which my fastening device is directly connected; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section of the money receptacle; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the parts upon line AB of Fig. 1 and CD of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an interior view with the outer case removed; Fig. 8 is an elevation thereof looking toward the underside of Fig. 7 with the outer case in section; Fig. 9 is a similar view looking toward the top of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the bolt lever; Fig. 11 is a side elevation thereof; Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are views of the several tumblers; Fig. 15 is an elevation of the key cylinder; and Fig. 16 is an elevation of the key.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the meter; 2 the case connected therewith Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 2, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Serial No. 441,616.

and inclosing the automatic valve operating mechanism (not herein shown); and 3 is the money receptacle which is telescopically fitted into the lower end of the case 2.

Projecting laterally from one side of the receptacle 3, is the bolt plate 4, which lies between the sides of the guard 6, when the receptacle is within the case 2, with the openings 5 and 7 in register with each other. The case 8 is fixed permanently to the case 2 and contains a tumbler plate 9 formed with upwardly projecting sides 10 and slotted at 11 to permit the guard 6 to enter therein, said slot having on three of its sides a guard plate 12 through which is an opening 13. The openings 7 and 13 are concentric with each other and when the receptacle 3 is within the case 2 the opening 5 also registers therewith. Fixed to the tumbler plate 9 are the posts 14 and 18, to which is secured the cylinder plate 15, within which and the plate 9 is rotatably mounted the key cylinder 16 having an axial groove 17 therein of substantially the same width as the thickness of the key 33. Movably mounted upon the posts 18 are the tumblers 19, 20 and 21, each of which is provided with a notch 22 and having connected therewith a spring 23 which bears against one of the side plates 10 and the tension of which normally holds the inner edge of said tumblers against the key cylinder 16. In the drawings three tumblers are shown, but a greater or less number can be used if desired within my invention. Rotarily mounted upon the key cylinder 16 and su ported by the collar 32 is the bolt lever 24 having the bolt 28 and arm 25 thereon, and through which is a radial notch 26 opening into the central bore 27. The key 33 to operate this fastening mechanism can only be, inserted when the bolt is in its locked position, (shown by broken lines in Fig. 6), at which time the side 29 of the notch 26 is in register with the notch 17 in the cylinder 16. By rotating the key the tumblers 19, 20 and 21 are moved upon the post 18 so that all of the notches 22 therein are in register with each other, during which time the bolt is at rest and the key is passing through the notch 26. After the key engages the side 30 of the notch 26 the bolt plate 24 is moved by the key and the arm 25 thereon enters the notches 22, thereby withdrawing the bolt, so that it assumes the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7, at which time the receptacle 3 can be removed from, or inserted in, the case 2. When the parts are in this position the key cannot be l connected therewith and having an opening taken out as the cylinder plate 15 is in the key notch 34 and the top of the case 8 in the notch 35, and can only be removed when the notch 17 in the cylinder is brought into register with the notch 31 in the said plate. To look the parts the movement of the key is reversed and until it engages the side 29 of the notch 26 the bolt lever 24 is at rest but thereafter is moved about the axis of the key cylinder 16 swinging the arm 25 out of the notches 22 and allowing the tumblers to be returned to their original position by the springs 23.

There are minor changes and alterations that can be made within my invention, aside from those herein suggested, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described the combination with a rotarily mounted key cylinder; of a tumbler; a lever having a bolt connected therewith movable about the axis of said cylinder; and key means for moving said tumbler away from said cylinder and said bolt about the axis of said cylinder at substantially one and the same time.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a fixed part; of a plate connected therewith; a key cylinder rotarily mounted within said fixed part and plate; a tumbler pivotally connected with said fixed part; a bolt lever having a bolt connected therewith pivotally mounted up on said cylinder and having an arm projecting therefrom; and key means for actuating said tumbler and bolt lever.

3. In a device ofthe character described, the combination with a fixed part; of a plate therethrough with a radial notch extending therefrom mounted in said fixed part and plate; a bolt lever having an opening therethrough with a radial notch extending therefrom and rotarily mounted upon said cylinder; a tumbler movably connected with said fixed part; and key means for actuating said tumblers and lever.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotarily mounted key cylinder; of a notched tumbler; a lever having an arm thereon and a bolt connected therewith movable about the axis of said cylinder; and key means for moving said tumbler so that the notch therein will occupy a predetermined position, to said lever so that the arm thereon will be moved into said notch.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotarily mounted key cylinder; of a notched tumbler; a lever having an arm and a bolt connected therewith and movable about the axis of said cylinder; and key means for actuating said bolt, and moving said tumbler so that thenotch therein will be brought into the path of movement of said arm during the actuation of said bolt.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotarily mounted key cylinder; of a tumbler having a limited rotary movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylinder; a lever having a bolt connected therewith movable about the axis of said cylinder; and key means for synchronously moving said tumbler away from said cylinder and said bolt about the axis of said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I al'Iix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN A. REEVES, l/Vitnesses GEORGE E. IIALL, FLORENCE IIMoNK.

a notched cylinder rotarily 

